He will never talk about current projects, which makes anticipation of his next book all the more enticing.

The Distinguished Service Professor Emeritus of History at the University of Florida, Gainesville, is the author of a national best seller, as well as the author of some of the most respected books about Florida history.

As a former priest in the Catholic Church, his books detailing the history of Catholicism in Florida are significant references, as well as fascinating reading for anyone interested in the development of Catholicism and mission work in the city boasting the oldest Catholic Parish in the United States.

A bridge on the grounds of the Mission of Nombre de Dios is dedicated to Gannon -- as well it should since, as a priest, he was the director of the Mission grounds and a popular clergyman at the Prince of Peace Church on the mission grounds.

His books "Rebel Bishop" and "Cross In the Sand" were reprinted in the 1990s.

His interest in World War II history led him on a quest to Germany to research WW II incidents involving German U-Boat activity off the east coast of the United States.

On April 10, 1942, the German submarine U-123 sank the Gulfamerica off Jacksonville Beach, with a blast heard in St. Augustine.

The fully loaded fuel tanker was making its maiden voyage from Texas when Lt. Cmdr. Rheinhard Hardegen and his crew spotted it silhouetted against the coastal lights and destroyed the tanker with the help of only one well placed torpedo.

Gannon puts the entire incident into perspective with well-documented World War II facts. And, he not only met Hardegen, but invited him to Florida on a book signing tour and gave him the opportunity to walk the beach he had only seen from a periscope.

He also met the people who now live on the shores he surveyed.

Gannon was featured as a commentator on the history of German U-boat warfare on the three-hour television documentary, "The U-Boat War," produced by ITN in London and shown in this country on the Discovery Channel.

His interest in the war years surfaced again in "Pearl Harbor Betrayed," published in 2001 and described as "the most authoritatively researched and documented book yet written" about the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on Dec. 7, 1941.

Gannon is the author of eight books.

Gannon's awards include the Knight Commander of the Order of Isabel la Catolica from King Juan Carlos I of Spain and the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Florida Historic Society.

His two-act play "My Friend Zelma" about an incident in the life of author Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings will be produced by A Classic Theater Inc. in St. Augustine during March and April.